I care man...hopefully you are making some real life coin on this stuff. It is hard to get my arms around BONT and my hats off to you for cashing in. Nothing better then being on the right side of a squeeze...

dragonLZ, if nobody really cares than you can consider yourself a contrarian investor and hope for outsized returns in underloved sectors.

Except for PSO which makes a lot of its profit with educational materials and books, I don't like media stocks.

I don't like banks.

I'm not crazy about most clothing retail stocks--very little competitive moat and at the mercy of fads.

Although I'm not interested in the same sectors, I'm glad that you have been seeing great results and I wish you continued success with your strategy.

When I was about 4 or 5, I was puzzled why my father was interested in "socks" and "bonnets" which he would read about in the paper. Strange! Unfortunately he sold his "socks" and "bonnets" and lost his money. Never, ever co-sign for anyone. My financial education started early, but only recently have I learned why stocks are fun.

Have a great weekend, dragonLZ and give your little daughter a hug. I remember the blog you wrote to honor her birthday.

I don't care if nobody cares, I care that you care and have found some value in every one of your blogs. I'm not particularly a fan of "beating one's chest" but I do applaud winners and I do appreciate the fact that you go out on the limb in the interests of helping fellow fools without the ranting and raving and negativity of many.

So, now that you probably have more people caring, what do you see among your favorites that is at a good entry point? Stocks that have already run over 100 percent may not necessarily be at a good buy point right now.

MNI ??? down 11% yesterday..and guess where its at today??? ....... if you had just bought MNI at the begining of this week...all I can say is " Ouch"

That's because McClatchy reported earnings yesterday and remember Dragon doesn't care about those. The problem with these garbage companies is they can only run so long with a blindfold on before their actual crappy numbers catch up with them.

As for UL, I have to say UL knows so much about investing, the stock market, and individual stocks that I'm an absolute beginner comparing to him. Also, our styles are totally different, which makes it very hard to compare two of us. I think his picks are safer, mine are more high risk/high reward kind of picks.

Lemoneater, I dont care for media, banks, or retail either, but you have to identify something as either a trade or a long term hold. Its all about money flows, and I have to hand it to dragon, he has been spot on in identifying where money flows were going.

And speaking of point gains...remember I'm the one with a 46 point average per pick and you're the one with a 7 point average per pick =)

I can't argue with that. You played the game much better than I did. You also had that great call on 3/9/09, which I can't match. Your portfolio is also well positioned to take advantage of next correction, while mine will probably get killed again.

There is no reason for all the cat fights.lol Dragon is good at picking stocks..its just his entry point isnt always right..on the other hand UL is very good at picking stocks with a good to great entry and exit points..so both of you get a cookie : )

I got me some STSA on Friday without first consulting with you. I hope you are OK with my decision.

I think there are two possible scenarios for Monday: If market goes up (on some positive news would be perfect), STSA can go up another 30 - 50% (this just shows you how crazy I am), and if market goes down on some negative news, STSA can go down 30% or so.

I really hope STSA can repeat what PCBC did (went from $1.88 on 4/5/10 to $5.11 on 4/23/10).

I followed STSA for quite some time now (it fits my four-two criteria), but it just kept going down so I thought my 4-2 made a mistake.

But, when STSA jumped 50% on Friday (it ended the day up 67%), I thought that was a sign things are starting to go 4-2's way.

Even if STSA goes down a lot in short term, I'll keep holding onto it.

For what is worth, FBP is another cheap (but risky) bank that fits my 4-2.

Hi DragonLZ, you certainly don't need my permission to make a RL call...but it would be nice to cut me in!!! :)

I know, ..despite the evidence, you still think I jinx you....

Just so you can lose sleep over your STSA call, I'll let you know that fundamentally, STSA is one of the worse investments someone could make. They need capital soon or the FDIC will be knocking at their door. Capital usually means dillution for current shareholders. Their bad loan writeoffs continue to sky rocket.

From a technicals standpoint,

20% of their shares are short, so a short, short squeeze is occuring and the jump to $2.00 and retrace could be the final shot, but maybe not....

They have 178 branches, so at a sub $100 Million market cap, the market is only valuing their banks at about half a million each.

This makes them VERY attractive to any larger bank looking to expand. If another bank can get the FDIC to insure some of their bad loans, then they could be a buyout candidate, or another bank could just hope they fail and get them ultra-cheap with certain guarantees from Mr. Fed.

Finally, you should be aware, that I looked at this one this past weekend, and I got in pre-market. Misery loves company, so hope you don't mind me joining the ride, even if you weren't going to let me in on this very dangerous and no doubt crappy call!!! If it spouts to $100 Million market cap, I'm very likely to downthumb this POS here on CAPS to hedge my RL investment!!! :)

PS. I need to see $2.75 in the next 40 days to really bank money on this one......I think it highly unlikely, but if you can shake that snow globe a little harder I'd appreciate it!!!!

dare1182, Yes, it absolutely could DIVE like a deflated balloon. No doubt about it. I called ABK's rise to $3.40 a crap run. I'm still surprised it is holding $1.80. After more assessment, the "game" on the small banks that were sub-$1 is probably caused by the new banking regulations. There is part of the bill to pay up to $50 Billion for banks that need bailed out, which might make them more attractive to a buyout offer. Still, the bill implies they have to be taken over first, meaning shareholders get ZERO, so I'm not sure how the regulation bill times in, but it times perfectly with STSA and the other weak banks cycles the last few trading days. The Republicans are squashing that part, which is about what time they started to dive again. Add Day trading, speculators, and who knows what and you have a volitile game going on. I don't know where it will fall to. Only use money you can "afford" to lose!!! :)

I often say banks can't be valued properly due to potential writedowns hiding on the books. Most banks have a book value sub-1, so some cushion, at least on paper. STSA's book value is now 2.6. On a risk/reward meter, this one is not worth the risk. Still, some of us are drawn to the fire....it's so pretty...... :)

DragonLZ, there are more I'm with you on that aren't going down that that are. I "played" GTN up wth you twice before it got to rich. I'm still in RAS (as you mentioned), CNO, PNX, and probably several more. STSA is playing with fire...I like my hamburgers medium well and my marshmellows crispy....... turn up the heat!!! :)

I often say that you can't band equities with severe catalysts in play with charts. Pure chartists don't believe me, and I really don't care if I change anyone else's mind. I don't believe reistance or technicals apply when the "sky is falling"....it's uncharted territory.

At any rate, it looks like fundamentally, STSA has some promise as a risk stock. I'm holding, (for now)....but I could get off the bus at anytime.

The catalyst is whether they can get recapitalized. They are a rather large bank by FDIC takeover standards. The FDIC will swoop in on banks with 15 or fewer branches on a weekend and turn them over to another local bank. IN the case of banks this size, they'd rather see a buyout. THL has offered $135 Million and this might get the FDIC to convert preferred to common.

STSA, if it gets capitalized would then be a good buyout target. It's hard to say how much they will be worth after dilution and recapitalization, but I'm willing to bet several $$ per share. I have seen banks get sold for LESS than share price when shareholders get ahead of the game and don't understand the real value with the bad loans on the books.

A dangerous game to play. I won't go any deeper, but I will ride along for awhile.

STSA is down more than 50% since your recommendation.. great job : ) .... I know stocks go up and down.. but if someone got in on the STSA boat when you said its chart is lovely, They had just lost %50 ...

dare, what can I say? You are right. Losing 50% is no fun, and I feel sorry for everybody who lost money, including myself.

But, what did i say above? Take a look at STSA if you have $300 or $500 you can afford to lose. I didn't say $10,000.

I bought 700 shares last Friday at $1.35, sold all 700 a few minutes ago at $0.99. I lost $300. Is that a lot?

Even if I lost the whole $1,000 I invested, I wouldn't be crying like you are.

Why?

1. I said there is a 50/50 chance of that happening.

2. I can afford to lose $1,000 (besides all the other money I'm expecting to lose when market starts correcting - like yesterday).

Also, why are you blaming me if you bought into STSA?

Are you sure your greed has nothing to do with it?

p.s.

- Lessons learned (hopefully):

1. Don't play with fire if you can't take the heat

2. Don't invest the money you can't afford to lose

3. Don't follow the idiots on the internet (by this I mean myself, not TSIF)

4. Do your own DD

5. Money doesn't grow on trees (just in case you are looking for easy money).

p.s.

How come you didn't follow me on this.? Right now, you would be writing me a check and a thank you note for a 70% gain in a little over a month... (moral of the story: everybody makes good and bad calls)...

You crack me up lol... Im not blaming you for STSA, but from the way you were pushing the stock , I thought geee, he must be the CEO andhe knows something... I didnt sell STSA today, in fact I added some : D

Excellent Analogy YodaBuffett! DragonLZ's focus is high beta stocks. He well knows they will go up the most if they can get a little push from the market. They will often go down more than the general market in a down pattern. This is expected because: Stocks with quick rises have new investors with itchy fingers and longer term investors now making a profit or excited to reduce their loses. Very volitile. Investors in these are hoping for a home run, but will flee at any sign of trouble.

DragonLZ, if you make the call and you add the appropriate caution which you DID!! Then rest easy. You're posting in a public forum with a mix of seasoned and new investors. Hopefully most are here to learn. I learn more by losing than winning!!! :)

In regard to your number 3 above:

"3. Don't follow the idiots on the internet (by this I mean myself, not TSIF)"

I make some high risk plays as well and enjoy an occasional glass of koolaide. By the way, I meant to tell you that last batch your wife sent me had a little too much sugar! :)

I saw RAS spike to $4.00 then the drop to $3.80 today....I was tempted to unload on the spike, but I expected more. I'm getting a little better with pump and dump VS, the pump, breathe, pump.... :) This one "most likely" has some Legs left.

Unlike PCBC! PCBC just sold shares to an investor at $0.20. How can they still be worth even $2.00! Man, now that was a pump job!!!

Dragon has far more multi percent gainers than I do. His ratio is getting VERY good. The more you get in the limelight, however, in this game, the more your calls get looked at. As with anything, Bad can get noticed!! :)

I know you're razing him also DARE, but the bad calls tend to stand out more than the good call. Most of DragonLZ's calls are too scary for most of us who invested over the great fall, but they are doing very well overall!! Most of his misses on his scorecard are ETF's he thumbed end of October, Early Nov. when he was trying to Guess the market instead of sticking to individual stocks! Without those, he'd be soaring!

Hey Dragon, I thought you said nobody cares!! Did you realize you're "Groupie" count has exploded!!! You're number 134!

With Fame comes spotlight.....play wisely!!!

PS, I love those 3rd degree burns...you should see the nurses where I go when I get burned!!! They tie the straight jackets a little too tight, but the sponge baths...... :)

what you guys think of NBG, and FBP.. I bought some FBP today, not much though..and I hear alot noise about NBG..i bought some at $2.8 and sold @ $3.10 but Im considering getting more now that greece look to be stabalizing...what you think?

Let's first make sure you guys know that I closed PCBC 6 days ago at +97 points (held it for two weeks only). I don't want anyone thinking PCBC was another one of my bad calls. I just mentioned it as I was hoping STSA can also triple in a matter of days just like PCBC did.

TSIF, I think we need uno mas of the stocks like RAS. :)

Thanks for the nice words about my CAPS performance, but the truth is you too did rather well last few months.

Remember when back in November we were struggling to get back into the 99 crowd...? :)

p.s. What do you think about NCT? I'm getting ready to give it a try (hope for a pullback). I don't like the fact that it already doubled since February, but here is how I look at it: It will either double for us once more or we'll get treated by your nurses.

dare, NBG and FBP? It looks to me like you too would like to get a sponge bath...

Here is my advice. Call this number: 1-800-GAM BLING. They answer phones 24/7, and the call is toll-free. Those people are experts in helping gambling addicts, and believe me, if they can't help you, nobody can.

Just kidding... (not)... :)

p.s. Tomorrow, I'll give you my opinion on those two. It's way too late for me to think right now.

As far as FBP, I've been playing BPOP. VERY similar play. I only need one of those types, but I'll look at FBP when I get a chance. I would look at BPOP, however. Again, very high risk,

Both are sponge bath and straight jacket material. The urge to get rich fast has made more poor people than rich......

NCT is tricky. Any of these investment firms who can sell off a division and still have good assets is tricky. The value of a piece might get them the leverage they need to get the liquidity back. RAS was very similar and that's what pushed the rally yesterday. I'd have to look at NCT deeper. It has some potential.

lol ..high risk = high rewards... low risk= why are you even in the market..... Im still holding to STSA but it looks to me that it is going to bleed for a while and then..hmmm ..one of those days ( soon i hope) we will read STSA up 147% in one day

PCBC sold stock to an investor at the equivalent of $0.20 per share yesterday They will be 90% owned by this investor. Daytraders may play this one, but real investors should not. My downthumb on this one was plus 58 when I last checked. It is worth $0.40 at best. Yes DragonLZ used this as an example of what is "possible" when referring to STSA...Possible and reality can diverge greatly. PCBC is fools money and I mean tht with a lower case "f" not an upper! I'm still holding STSA. Good luck.

Many people are in the market for low risk, but better than bank rates. A few speculative picks are "fun" in my opinion. 100% speculative picks is fine if you're young and really truely understand the risk, but I'd bet few do. Good luck, cuz that's what it is when you play 100% with fire and don't have nurses like I do!!! :)

man I need to get a nurse, after watching YRCW,STSA,PCBC..and it looks like RAS is starting to run out of air to keep running.. do you think I should buy some RAS this week when it dives 25%? or should I wait til it hits $2.0 again?

Hey Dare, there are ALWAYS spikes on these type of equities. When the crowd rests there will be pull backs.

The trick is to know which pullbacks to jump on for the next spike and which pull backs to let go. RAS was doing well until the market tanked in the afternoon. I don't think you will ever see $2 on this one, but if the market pulls back more, it will too.

I'd suggest you take the $3.10 you were thinking about spending and go buy a coffee and a doughnut.

HAHA I dont have to tell you how much I invest..But I can assure you that its more than $3.10 , However, I dont invest alot money in garbage stocks..they are a gamble so I use my gamble money just for a little bit of fun...Anyway Great Call on STSA (NOT) its down 20% today alone.. You havnt answered my question should I buy RAS now or wait until it goes back to $2?